Chapter 409: A chase in the rain

"Damn it, damn it, dam it...!"

A middle-aged, black-haired woman with amber eyes and a birthmark in the shape of a banana on her neck, was running away through the dark alley, cursing to herself in panic as the pouring rain was drowning the sounds of her steps.

"...what did I even do to him...?!"

She gritted her teeth and dared to glance back as she thought that she had gained enough distance already...

"!!!!"

But almost had a heart attack once she noticed the tiny cloaked figure running only a few steps behind her.

"FUCK OFF, YOU BASTARD!"

*swish* *swish* *swish*

The woman growled and spun around on her heel the moment she took her next step and with the white light enveloping her hands she flawlessly threw three daggers coated in black paint straight at her pursuer – after which she continued running without losing any of the speed.

*clang* *clang* *clang*

"Tsk...!"

But the sound of the daggers getting deflected broke through the sound of the downpour and caused her to click her tongue.

She wasn't calm, to begin with, but with the situation becoming as dreadful as this, well, she was rapidly losing whatever was left with her composure.

Away from the main road, running through the slums in the middle of the night – it was useless to call for help as it was far more likely to attract more assailants than actually meet a kind soul that would save her.

In the first place, she wasn't that even that weak – and in a normal situation, she should be able to at least outrun or hideaway even if her opponent was a level 99 player character – she was that certain about the power of her legs as well as her agility stat – but this persistent guy seemed to be using some skill that would make him keep up with her – and even when she would try to mask her presence, he would instantly find her location as if he could see through walls!

It was really, really bad.

Maybe the worst part of it was – the woman had no idea why that guy would be so keen on attacking her in the first place!

She never did him any wrong – far from it – the last time they've seen each other, she actually helped him – so why the tiny bastard was out for blood now?!

And why was it HER blood?!

The woman vaulted over a low fence built up with rotting planks that must have been laying in the mud for a few years, and changed the direction she was going, trying to return to the more populated area, preferably even somewhere closer to the adventurer's guild but...

*SWING*

A one-handed shortsword appeared out of nowhere and cleaved at the muddy road – if the woman didn't notice it and stop in time, her head would have lost connection to her neck for sure.

"Fffffff...!"

The woman breathed out with a hissing sound as she pulled out another dagger and stabbed it right at the head of the short opponent.

*CLANG*

"URGH!"

...but her attack got countered with enough strength to send her stumbling back, barely able to keep her balance.

"Little bastard...! Who put you up for this?!"

The woman gritted her teeth and tried to buy some time while she changed her grip on the dagger to make it more suitable for deflecting the blows of the much bigger weapon.

"..."

Yet only silence responded to her, as the short cloaked attacker lifted up his sword and turned to her menacingly.

"Is this because of one of the recent quests? Or the older ones? Or are you just fucked up in the head?"

The woman growled trying to at least make the silent pursuer show any sort of reaction.

"..."

All for naught.

*shing* *shing* *shing* *shing* *shing* *shing* *shing*

The cloaked guy's body shone with white light and he unleashed a torrent of powerful attacks – which the woman managed to dodge by jumping back...

*SHING*

*RIIIP*

"URGH!"

*clang*

*thump*

...until her luck had run out and she slipped on the puddle with the worst timing possible and her opponent's blade sliced into her forearm stopping only at the bone – which made the woman grunt in pain as she dropped her dagger that bounced on the ground and disappeared in the darkness while she ended up with her back on the muddy road.

"...damn it...!"

She gritted her teeth, clenching the deep wound that completely disabled her fingers.

"Heh... How about I suck you off and you let me go for today...?"

She asked with a pained smirk as her eyes shone with white light.

"...!"

At first, it looked like her charm skill worked – the cloaked person flinched – but in the next moment an artifact on his finger shone brightly, and the man shook his head as the debuff status effect was cleansed.

"Tsk... it was worth a try..."

The woman clicked her tongue, looking as if she has given up – but as the attacker raised his sword to deal the final blow, she herself pulled out her last dagger – right from her cleavage of all places - and...!

*RIIIIIIIIIP*

"!!!!!!!"

A white light shone from behind the short man and the next second HE GOT CLEAVED IN HALF DIAGONALLY by a white bone-like blade of a bastard sword that was glowing with an eerie whitish light.

The blood and guts spilled all over the place as the upper half of the attacker spun around before splashing into the mud right in front of the amber-eyed woman.

"...whew, no ruthless title, it wasn't anyone important..."

"...?!"

The woman heard a relieved sigh before the clouds have parted and the moonlight illuminated her savior - a tall black-haired boy, looking around fifteen or maybe sixteen years old... whose skin was completely blue!

"An undead?!"

The woman gasped in disbelief and backed off, even more worried.

"Ah, right – of course, you don't know..."

The undead teenager glanced at her and rolled his eyes.

"Hey-o miss Banana, long time no see. Are you still the guild master?"

The blue undead asked, sheathing his sword and walking towards the woman, stomping on the steaming intestines of the freshly murdered man with no second thoughts, and offered her his hand.

"Wha... who...?"

Banana, the guild master of the local adventurer's guild gasped, flabergasted, and furrowed her brows carefully looking at the undead's face.

"Wait...! You're one of Laura's kids! Zombie, right? What happened to you?!"

She asked in shock.

"That's a long story. Let's get you to safety – I have a business with you, and I need you alive and adequately well."

Zombie smirked cheekily and helped Banana to stand up even though she was rather uncooperative, still trying to wrap her head around what was going on.